6 Passenger Lift Safety Rules To Be Aware Of

Passenger lifts are a vital part of modern buildings, enabling smooth and accessible movement for people of all ages and abilities. However, their continuous and unsupervised use highlights the importance of adhering to safety standards to protect both users and maintenance personnel. While lifts are among the safest modes of transport due to their stringent design and engineering, understanding the essential safety requirements is crucial for ensuring compliance with lift regulations and preventing accidents.

Every year, thousands of injuries are linked to lifts and escalators, often caused by a lack of maintenance or awareness of safety components. Duty holders, such as employers or building managers, must implement robust safety tips and regular inspections to mitigate risks. 

This guide outlines six key passenger lift safety rules, offering practical insights into maintaining safe operations and ensuring compliance with legal requirements. Protect your passengers and your workforce by staying informed and proactive.

6 safety rules for passenger lifts to be aware of

There are six safety rules related to maintaining and using a passenger lift. Do you know them?

LOLER inspections

The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations apply to passenger lifts and chair lifts, which are technically lifting devices used by employees in the workplace (PUWER). 

LOLER Statutory Inspections are a legal requirement for lifts in public and commercial buildings.

However, lifting equipment that is not provided for or utilised by persons while they are at work will typically not be covered by either LOLER or PUWER. Examples of this include stair lifts in private residences and platform lifts in stores and shopping centres that are used for customer access. However, the companies that supply this equipment will be accountable for its security (it will require routine maintenance and inspection).

Serious defects

The competent person conducting the thorough examination is required to verbally notify the responsibility holder, who may be the employer or the person or organisation in control of the premises, as soon as major faults are discovered. The written report should then come next, and a copy of it needs to be given to the appropriate enforcing authority.

Such examinations and inspections are crucial, and their significance can never be understated. For this reason, the individual conducting the examinations and inspections must be qualified.

Access to dangerous machinery

The duty holder must take the necessary steps to restrict access to harmful machinery for escalators and lifts (in line with PUWER regulations). It is necessary to restrict access to the hazardous equipment in the equipment plant room.

Most of the time, this may be accomplished simply by keeping the door to the plant room shut and posting the appropriate notices. The provision of insulating mats in front of electrical equipment should be taken into consideration. Equipment in the plant room must be guarded to protect anyone working in the space.

Maximum loads

The safe working load must be established and displayed in a suitable, noticeable location in order to ensure the safe use of a lift. Most often, this is done by placing a health and safety sign inside the lift car that specifies the maximum weight and number of people that can be transported.

Emergency procedures

For potential lift and escalator accidents, it’s crucial to have the right emergency measures in place.

The most frequent incident involving elevators is the elevator getting stuck. The fundamental actions to be taken in these situations will be to make sure that:

• Establishing a service agreement with a lift engineer that includes call-out conditions.
• In the event of a lift malfunction or breakdown, there is a mechanism of contact from inside the elevator.
• There are established plans for releasing people from the lift.
• To assure the availability of assistance, plans are made to use internal workers (for hand-winding, for example), including training of such equipment and a staff rota.
• Plans are made to include outside engineer assistance, as well as after-hours service for cleaners and other building tenants.

Insurance requirements

The frequency and scope of examination may be specified in a policy condition since passenger lifts will be covered under the employer’s insurance plans and occasionally a separate engineering insurance.

If there is any ambiguity as to what any terms entail, it should be clarified right once because failing to follow the underwriters’ criteria could result in the insurance becoming void.

You Might Like: 16 Point Passenger Lift Inspection Checklist

What Are Passenger Lift Safety Rules and Why Are They Needed?

Passenger lift safety rules are guidelines and regulations designed to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of conventional passenger lifts in various settings, from commercial buildings to residential complexes. These rules are critical for protecting users, particularly in environments where lifts are used continuously and often unsupervised by people of all ages and abilities.

10,000 people require a trip to A&E each year due to accidents involving lifts and escalators.

For lift owners, compliance with safety standards is not only a legal obligation but also an essential part of maintaining the reliability and functionality of their lifts. Lifts regulations—including those outlined in the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER)—establish strict requirements for inspections, maintenance, and operational procedures to minimise risks.

The lift industry works closely with building regulations and fire safety standards to address potential hazards such as overloading, mechanical failures, and emergency response. These rules ensure that passenger lifts remain one of the safest and most dependable modes of transport in modern buildings.

Find Out More: What Does LOLER Stand For in Health & Safety?

Looking for Expert Lift Servicing?

Here at Future Lift Services we are experts in lift regulations and undertaking maintenance for a wide range of lifts including passenger lifts.

We offer high-quality lift installation, repairs, and maintenance & servicing for all types of businesses and buildings across the UK. A lift servicing visit can be completed by our team of certified engineers at a time and date that works for you, causing the least amount of inconvenience to your business.

Book your free, no-obligation quote today!

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